This patient-friendly article is about chemotherapy drug, Bicalutamide (Casodex) which is an anti-androgen which works by attaching itself to proteins (receptors) on the surface of cancer cells to stop testosterone from entering. Men given hormone therapy injections for prostate cancer will usually be given anti-androgens to avoid the effect of tumour flare connected with the first dose of treatment.
It is given in tablet form generally given daily with a hormone therapy injection, or it can be used on its own to treat prostate cancer that has begun to spread into the tissues outside the prostate gland (locally advanced). It is no longer recommended for early prostate cancer (contained within the prostate gland) after a trial suggested a possible increased risk of heart attacks.
Side effects can include: decreased sperm count etc as above, breast tenderness and enlargement, hot flushes, mild itching and dryness of skin, nausea, vomiting and mild diarrhoea, drowsiness and occasionally blood in the urine.
Why not read our overview of your cancer? Click here.
Go to: 10 ways to improve your chemotherapy success and reduce side-effects
Other articles that you may find interesting are:
- A diet for Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy overview
- A to Z Guide to Complementary Therapies
Go to: Return to the CANCERactive drug list